WO2008023926A2

WO2008023926A2 - Server and methods for communication service with multimedi content by mobile communication network and digital multimedia broadcasting network

Info

Publication number: WO2008023926A2
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chung-Pyo Hong; Hak-Seong Yu
Original assignee: Ktfreetel Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-08-25
Filing date: 2007-08-22
Publication date: 2008-02-28
Also published as: CN101682520B; KR100923984B1; CN101682520A; WO2008023926A3; KR20080018784A

Abstract

A multimedia contents communication service system and method using a mobile communication system and a portable mobile broadcasting system. The multimedia contents communication service system includes a communication service system for processing receiving communication messages and transmission communication messages for providing a multimedia contents communication service; a mobile communication system for transmitting a receiving communication message received from the portable mobile broadcasting terminal to the communication service system; and a portable mobile broadcasting system for transmitting a transmission communication message received from the communication service system to a broadcasting network. Therefore, the message can be transmitted more cheaply and quickly compared to the mobile communication network, and the problem of time delay caused by message transmission delay can be solved by transmitting the message that is generated while the user views or listens to the video, audio, and data broadcasting of the portable mobile broadcasting by using the portable mobile broadcasting system.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION SERVICE WITH MULTIMEDIA

CONTENT BY MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND DIGITAL

MULTIMEDIA BROADCASTING NETWORK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multimedia contents communication service system and method using a mobile communication system and a portable mobile broadcasting system. In particular, the present invention relates to using a mobile communication system for providing various services such as chatting, multimedia data transmission, and events through transmitting/receiving messages in cooperation with portable mobile broadcasting that is output through a portable mobile broadcasting system, and a message transmitting/receiving system and method using a portable mobile broadcasting system.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Various wireless communication services using wireless telecommunication networks have been provided as electronics and communication techniques have been rapidly developed. Recently, a portable mobile broadcasting service for receiving high-quality television and video services without regard to location by using a mobile receiver such as a mobile terminal or a vehicle receiver has been developed. The portable mobile broadcasting network for a portable mobile broadcasting service includes digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H), integrated service digital broadcasting-terrestrial sound broadcasting for radio (ISDB-Tsb), and forward ink only (ISDB-Tsb). The representative DMB service from among them is classified as satellite DMB and terrestrial DMB. The satellite DMB is a method for transmitting DMB broadcasting signals to a moving receiver by using a broadcasting satellite, and the terrestrial

DMB is a method for transmitting DMB broadcasting signals to a moving receiver by using a terrestrial transmitter. The DMB service providing the DMB system has an advantage in transmitting high-capacity data since the system has a great bandwidth, the terrestrial DMB has a data rate of 0.8 Mbps - 1.7 Mbps, and the satellite DMB has a data rate of 2.4 Mbps. Also, compared to the CDMA 1X EV-DO network or a network with a similar data rate to that of the WCDMA network, the DMB system advantageously can transmit quality data according to the characteristic of transmitting data not using bi-directional signals but using unidirectional data.

The portable mobile broadcasting system such as the DMB system provides good transmission data without regard to location or time, and hence, many users use the portable mobile broadcasting system since they can view high-quality TV programs.

However, since it is impossible for the user to use a wireless Internet while viewing portable mobile broadcasting by using a mobile terminal, it is impossible for the user to chat with another user during portable mobile broadcasting or transmit corresponding multimedia contents, thereby allowing no communication exchange.

Accordingly, techniques for applying a message transmitting/receiving method of a mobile communication system having a bi-directional data transmission characteristic to a portable mobile broadcasting network having a unidirectional data transmission characteristic to view portable mobile broadcasting and simultaneously provide various multimedia contents communication services such as a message exchange among a plurality of portable mobile broadcasting viewers, one-to-one chat between specific users, transmission of multimedia contents, and event performance by a portable mobile broadcasting station are needed. The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a message transmitting/receiving system and method for providing a chat service among users who view portable mobile broadcasting, a multimedia data transmission service, and a business service, by configuring a communication system for connecting a portable mobile broadcasting system and a mobile communication system.

In one aspect of the present invention, a communication service server for providing a communication service to a terminal for receiving a broadcasting signal includes: a receiver for receiving a receiving communication message for the communication service from a communication system; a controller for converting the receiving communication message into a transmission communication message to be output to the terminal, and controlling the communication service server; and a transmitter for transmitting the transmission communication message to the broadcasting system or the communication system.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for transmitting/receiving a communication message for providing a communication service to a terminal for receiving a broadcasting signal includes: (a) checking a type of a communication service requested through a receiving communication message received through a communication system wherein the receiving communication message is a communication message received from the terminal; (b) reconfiguring a transmission communication message for the checked communication service wherein the transmission communication message is output to the terminal; and (c) outputting the reconfigured transmission communication message to a broadcasting system or the communication system.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for a terminal to transmit a communication message so as to provide a communication service on a broadcasting program transmitted through broadcasting signals includes: (a) checking a type of communication service requested from a terminal user; (b) generating a communication message including a type of communication service, a request history, and a group ID having information on a list of terminals for receiving the communication message; and (c) outputting the generated communication message to the communication system. ' In another aspect of the present invention, a method for providing a chat service to a terminal for receiving a broadcasting signal through transmitting/receiving a communication message includes: (a) receiving a chat room participation request message for requesting to enter a chat room, through a communication system; (b) reconfiguring a receiving chat message received from the terminal participating in the chat room to be a transmission chat message to be output to another terminal, and outputting the transmission chat message through a broadcasting system or the communication system; and (c) stopping provision of the chat service when receiving a chat room exit request message for stopping the chat service from the terminal.

In another aspect of the present invention, a communication service server for providing a communication service to viewers of a broadcasting program provided to a broadcasting terminal through transmitting/receiving a message using a mobile terminal includes: a receiver for receiving a receiving communication message for the communication service from a mobile communication system; a controller for converting the receiving communication message into a transmission communication message to be output to a plurality of broadcasting terminals or mobile terminals, and controlling the communication service server; and a transmitter for transmitting the transmission communication message to the broadcasting system or the mobile communication system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a multimedia contents communication system interworking with a DMB system and a mobile communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an internal block schematic diagram of a communication service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for providing a communication service menu according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for using a chat service between a plurality of users who view DMB broadcasting according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for inviting another user to a chat service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for opening a chat room for a chat service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for using a one-to-one chat service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for transmitting DMB broadcasting contents through a multimedia message according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for using a chat service interworking with a DMB broadcasting station according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for downloading a coupon through a business service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for providing a service for notifying event information provided in advance by a corresponding program by using a program guide according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of a multimedia contents communication service method by a DMB terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of a method for providing a multimedia contents communication service in a communication service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a signal flowchart of a method for entering and exiting a real-time reply room for posting an opinion on DMB broadcasting or a chat room for a chat service among a plurality of users according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a signal flowchart of a method for transmitting/receiving messages in a chat service among a plurality of users or a one-to-one chat service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a signal flowchart of a method for using a multimedia message service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a signal flowchart of a method for using a business service for transmitting event data according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a signal flowchart of a method for using a business service for posting and selling contents according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 shows a frame structure of a communication message that is transmitted/received for a communication service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprising" or variations such as "comprises" will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Also, the "module" in the present specification represents a unit for processing a predetermined function or operation, which can be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

The portable mobile broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes broadcasting standards for providing a mobile broadcasting service using the DMB, DVB-H, ISDB-Tsb, and FLO, and a mobile broadcasting service using a communication network including the multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), broadcast multicasting service (BCMCS), and wireless broadband (WiBro) system, and for better comprehension and ease of description, a DMB system will be exemplified. A mobile terminal for receiving DMB broadcasting signals from the DMB system and receiving a portable mobile broadcasting service will be referred to as a DMB terminal.

Further, various types of messages that are generated by a DMB terminal and transmitted to a plurality of DMB terminals through a DMB system or a mobile communication system will be referred to as communication messages.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a multimedia contents communication system interworking with a DMB system and a mobile communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The multimedia contents communication system includes a DMB terminal

110 for receiving DMB broadcasting, a mobile communication system 120 for transmitting/receiving a communication message to/from the DMB terminal, a DMB system 130 for transmitting DMB broadcasting and communication messages 110 to a plurality of DMB terminals 110, an Internet access device 150 for accessing the mobile communication system 120 through a cable and transmitting/receiving communication messages to/from the DMB terminals 110 for receiving a multimedia contents communication service, and an Internet 140 for connecting the mobile communication system 120 and the Internet access device 150.

The DMB terminal 1 10 is a mobile terminal for receiving DMB broadcasting data through the DMB system 130 and receiving a voice calling service and a wireless Internet service through the mobile communication system 120.

The mobile communication system 120 is a network for providing a voice calling service and a data service to the DMB terminal 110, and can be configured by various systems including the IS-95A/B, CDMA 1X, WCDMA, EV-DO, EV-DV,

GSM, HSDPA, and portable Internet. However, the mobile communication system 120 will be exemplified by the CDMA 1X network.

The mobile communication system 120 receives a communication message from the DMB terminal 110 and provides the communication message to a specific DMB terminal 110 or a DMB broadcasting station.

For this purpose, the mobile communication system 120 includes a base station transmission system (BTS) 1210, a base station controller (BSC) 1220, a mobile switching center (MSC) 1230, a packet data serving node (PDSN) 1240, an authentication server 1232, a billing server 1234, a communication service system 1250, a short messaging service center/multimedia messaging service center/cell broadcasting management center (SMSC/MMSC/CBMC) 1260, and a WAP gateway 1270.

The BTS 1210, which is a network terminal of the mobile communication system, receives a voice call request, a contents data provision request, and a message transmission request from the DMB terminal 1 10, transmits the same to the MSC 1230 or the PDSN 1240 through the BSC 1220, and transmits a voice call and a data call provided by the BSC 134 to the DMB terminal 1 10 in a wireless manner. Also, the BTS 1210 registers the location of the DMB terminal 1 10 located within the cell region managed by the BTS 1210.

The BSC 1220 controls a plurality of BTSs 1210, performs a radio channel allocation and cancellation process on the DMB terminal 1 10, controls transmission outputs of the DMB terminal 1 10 and the BTS 1210, determines inter-cell soft handoff and hard handoff, performs transcoding and vocoding, and provides GPS clock signals.

The MSC 1230 processes default and additional services, subscriber's sending and receiving calls, a location registration process and a handoff process, and an interlocking function with other networks. Also, the MSC 1230 includes a home location register (HLR) and a visitor location register (VLR), and it requests location registration of the DMB terminal 1 10, checks subscriber information, and provides additional services. The PDSN 1240 transmits contents data to the DMB terminal 1 10 by using a packet data service. Accordingly, the PDSN 1240 is connected to one of the additional service server and the communication service system 1270 in the mobile communication system 120, and a contents providing server (not shown) located outside the mobile communication system and connected through the Internet 140. The PDSN 1240 is an evolved format of the inter-working function (IWF) for supporting data communication in the 2G mobile communication system, and it is possible to realize the embodiment of the present invention by using the inter-working function instead of the PDSN 1240.

The authentication server 1250 authenticates a user who is registered to the mobile communication service, authenticates a user on the additional service requested by the DMB terminal 1 10, and authenticates a user who receives a multimedia contents communication service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The billing server 1260 bills the user who uses the mobile communication service, and in detail, settles the billing on the usage of the additional service through the wireless Internet such as a multimedia contents communication service according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the billing caused by using a voice calling service.

The communication service system 1270 receives various types of communication messages from the DMB terminal 1 10, and transmits or provides the communication message provided to the DMB terminal 1 10 or the requested multimedia contents through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 according to the received communication message. The communication service system 1270 can be connected to the DMB broadcasting statiqn 1310 through a dedicated network so as to transmit the communication message or the multimedia contents to the DMB terminal 1 10 through the DMB system 130.

In this instance, the communication service system 1270 can be located outside the mobile communication system 120, and can be connected to the mobile communication system 120 and the DMB system 130 through the Internet 140.

Through the communication service system 1270, the communication service subscriber can receive a business service, a community service, and a wired/wireless interlocking service including a chat service with a plurality of DMB viewers, a one-to-one chat service, a real-time broadcasting reply service, a multimedia message transmission service, a coupon and item service, and an event-participating service of the DMB broadcasting station. In this instance, the chat service with a plurality of DMB viewers can be classified as a general chat service that is provided among a plurality of unspecified DMB terminal users who view the same DMB broadcast, and a broadcasting chat service that is provided in a chat room operated by a DMB broadcasting person concerned (e.g., a corresponding DMB broadcasting producer and a writer). The general chat service will be described with reference to FIG, 4, and the broadcasting chat service will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The one-to-one chat service is a service for a one-to-one chat with a specific user, and the same can be realized by generating a chat room in the communication service system 1270, where the users can chat with each other by using a short message or a multimedia message after a chat room is formed by driving an application for the communication service installed in the DMB terminal. The one-to-one chat service will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7.

The real-time reply service is a service for DMB terminal users who view the same DMB broadcast to post their opinions on the DMB broadcast. Also, the chat service among a plurality of DMB viewers is serviced among the users who join the same chat room, and the real-time reply service is serviced among all the users who view the same DMB broadcast.

The multimedia message transmission service is a service for transmitting video or photos on the DMB broadcast to another user by using a multimedia message. The multimedia message transmission service will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8. The business service is a service for providing a product discount coupon, game item, game money, movie preview ticket, or performance admission ticket through the DMB broadcasting. The business service can be provided to all users who are connected to the corresponding DMB broadcasting channel, and can be provided to specific users through an event. The business service will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10.

The community service is a service for providing a notice board or a chat room so as to supply community activities including information sharing, chat room, and offline gathering among users who are interested in a specific DMB broadcasting program, a specific entertainer, specific songs, video fields, specific goods, or service providers.

A structure and functions of the communication service system 1270 for providing the above-noted communication service will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 processes various messages (short messages, voice messages, and multimedia messages) transmitted/received among the DMB terminal 110, the DMB broadcasting station 1310, and a plurality of contents providing servers. The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 checks the message types provided through the MSC 1230 or the PDSN 1240 by using a service identification code included in the message. The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC

1280 transmits the corresponding message to the communication service system

1270 when the checked message type is found to be a message of the multimedia contents communication service.

In this instance, each unique service identification code can be assigned to the multimedia contents communication service transmitted/received by the communication service system 1270 according to the service type, and hence, the

SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 can check the type of the requested multimedia contents communication service by checking the unique service identification code.

Frames of the various messages transmitted/received by the communication service system 1270 will be described in detail with reference to

FIG. 18.

The WAP gateway 1290 connects the mobile communication system 120 and the Internet 140 by mutually converting the WAP protocol used in the mobile communication system 120 and the transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) used in the Internet 140.

The DMB system 130 is a network for transmitting broadcasting data and the communication message to the DMB terminal 110 by using the DMB broadcasting station 1310 and a repeater 1320.

The DMB broadcasting station 1310 generates the broadcasting data, and outputs the generated broadcasting data to a plurality of DMB terminals 110 through the repeater 1320. Also, being connected to the communication service system 1270, the DMB broadcasting station 1310 receives the communication message from the communication service system 1270, and transmits the received communication message to a plurality of DMB terminals 110 through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120. The repeater 1320 includes a satellite, a terrestrial repeater, and a blanket area repeater, and it is a terminal for transmitting the DMB broadcasting data and the communication message transmitted by the DMB broadcasting station 1310 to the DMB terminal 110. A satellite and a blanket area repeater are used as the repeater 1320 in the satellite DMB system, and a terrestrial repeater and a blanket area repeater are used in the terrestrial DMB system.

In this instance, the communication message output through the DMB system 130 is different from the message transmitted/received in the existing mobile origination (MO) service. The MO service is a service in which when a viewer who views a broadcasting program outputs his opinion as a short message through the mobile communication system 120, and the broadcasting station receives the short message and reads the same during the broadcasting program or displays the same at the bottom of the broadcasting program screen. In this instance, the message displayed at the bottom of the broadcasting program screen is data inserted into the real broadcasting program and output through the broadcasting network, and is a component of the broadcasting program.

However, since the communication message input by the user is output through the broadcasting channel by borrowing or using a remaining broadcasting bandwidth that is not related to the real broadcasting program, the communication message is output irrespective of the component of the real broadcasting program. That is, the broadcasting data including the contents of the broadcasting program and the communication message are performed irrespective of network skills or program production.

The Internet 140 connected to the WAP gateway 1290 of the mobile communication system 120 transmits the communication message transmitted by a plurality of Internet access devices 150 to the communication service system 1270 of the mobile communication system 120.

The Internet access device 150 is a device connected to the Internet 140 and transmitting the communication message to the DMB broadcasting station 1310 through the communication service system 1270, and includes a personal computer. Also, the Internet access device 150 may include a DMB broadcasting receiving module for receiving the DMB broadcasting data that are transmitted through the DMB system 130.

FIG. 2 shows an internal block schematic diagram of a communication service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The communication service system 1270 includes a receiver for receiving a communication message from the PDSN 1240 or the SMSC/MMSC/CMBC 1260, a transmitter for transmitting the communication message to the DMB broadcasting station 1310, the PDSN 1240, or the SMSC/MMSC/CMBC 1260, and a controller for converting the received communication message into a communication message to be output and operating the communication service system. Here, the controller includes a session server 210, a menu server 220, a mobile multimedia contents community (MMCC) management server 230, a community server 240, an operating server 250, and an authentication/billing interlocking module 260.

The session server 210 operates a plurality of chat rooms for respective channels for the chat service among a plurality of users and the one-to-one chat service from among the multimedia contents communication service, and it manages a virtual session of each DMB terminal 110.

The menu server 220 transmits menu data through the wired/wireless Internet so that the DMB terminal 110 or the Internet access device 150 may select a desired multimedia contents communication service from among the various multimedia contents communication services.

The MMCC management server 230 performs a major function for the multimedia contents communication service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and in detail, it generates menu data for a menu service through the menu server 220, manages life cycles of the DMB broadcasting data or multimedia contents, and controls execution data for a lower module.

The community server 240 provides a community service for operating communities for specific DMB broadcasting programs, specific entertainers, specific songs, specific video, specific goods, and specific service providers. The community server 240 operates a community only chat room and a notice board so as to provide a community service. The operating server 250 includes an interface for operating the communication service system, and in detail, it receives instructions for notifying generation of an event or posing of multimedia contents from the operator of the communication service system, and transmits the instructions to the MMCC management server 230.

Also, the operating server 250 allocates a group ID for providing the multimedia contents communication service requested by the DMB terminal 110 from among the various multimedia contents communication services.

In this instance, the group ID is an identifier for identifying the DMB terminals 110 that participate in the respective DMB broadcasting channel and the multimedia contents communication service. The group ID is allocated to the

DMB terminal 110 when the DMB broadcast is selected so as to view the DMB broadcast, and the group ID allocated to the corresponding DMB broadcasting channel is allocated again to the DMB terminal 110 when the DMB broadcasting channel is changed. Also, when a chat service is requested while the viewer views the DMB broadcast, new group IDs are allocated for the respective chat rooms so as to identify the DMB terminals having entered the chat rooms that are opened for the chat service.

When the DMB terminal 110 finishes the multimedia contents communication service or stops viewing of the DMB broadcast, the group ID allocated to the DMB terminal 110 is deleted.

The information on the group ID, that is, group ID information allocated to each DMB broadcasting channel, group ID information allocated to each chat room, and information on the DMB terminal having received a group ID can be stored in the database 280.

The broadcasting signals that are output through the DMB system 130 include messages for a plurality of communication services, and each communication service message is matched with each group ID. Accordingly, the DMB terminal 110 uses the allocated group ID to extract the message related to the communication service to be used from among the broadcasting signals included in a plurality of communication service messages.

The authentication/billing interlocking module 260 authenticates the subscriber who uses the multimedia contents communication service according to the embodiment of the present invention by interworking with the authentication server 1250 and the billing server 1260 of the mobile communication system 120, and bills the usage of the multimedia contents communication service, thereby functioning as a gateway.

The receiver and the transmitter can be realized by an SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 for transmitting/receiving the communication message to/from the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280.

The SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the communication message that is transmitted/received for the multimedia contents communication service, and functions as a gateway between the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 of the mobile communication system 120 and the session server 210.

The communication service system 1250 may include an additional database 280 for storing various contents used for the multimedia contents communication service.

The database 280 stores various contents files, communication messages, multimedia contents communication service result data, statistical data, and subscriber information for the multimedia contents communication service according to the embodiment of the present invention. For example, the statistical data for the chat service from among the statistical data stored in the database 280 include a time/date/week/month chat service usage history, a used time or an amount of data, program information, a chat friend, and channel information.

In this instance, subscriber information stored in the database 280 includes various types of subscriber information including terminal information of the multimedia contents communication service subscriber and a service subscription history, and it functions to store a new subscriber history according to an input, a change, and a call request from the operating server 250 or call and provide the stored history. Here, the communication service system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a business service providing server for providing business services including a product discount coupon, a game item, game money, a movie preview ticket, and a performance admission ticket.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for providing a communication service menu according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A screen of the DMB terminal for receiving a multimedia contents communication service includes a DMB broadcasting display region 310 for displaying DMB broadcast, a message display region 320 for displaying a message that is transmitted through the DMB network 120 or the mobile communication system 120 for the chat message and the multimedia contents communication service, a menu button 330 for selecting various menus of the multimedia contents communication service, a transmission button 340 for transmitting the communication message and the instructions that are input by the user to the mobile communication system 120, and a message input region 350 for displaying the communication message that is input for chatting by the user or the instructions that are input for the multimedia contents communication service.

When the user desires to receive a multimedia contents communication service while viewing a DMB broadcasting program through a DMB terminal screen shown by 3A, he applies a specific button or a menu button for the multimedia contents communication service that is set in the DMB terminal 110.

When a specific button or a menu button for the multimedia contents communication service is applied, a communication service list as shown by 3B is displayed. The user can chat with a plurality of users who view the same broadcasting program by selecting 'Responsive chat' from the multimedia contents communication service list displayed by 3B, and can invite a specific user into the chat room through the 'Invite friend¹ menu choice. The user can open a chat room through the 'Open chat room' menu choice, and can use a one-to-one chat service with a specific user through the 'one-to-one chat' menu choice. Operational screens of the DMB terminal according to the respective multimedia contents communication service menus will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 11.

In this instance, the displayed multimedia contents communication service list and the title are variable by the DMB terminal manufacturer, the mobile communication service provider, and the DMB system operating company.

When the user selects 'Responsive chat' for a chat with another user from the multimedia contents communication service list shown on the DMB terminal as 4A, a screen for indicating entrance into the chat room is displayed as shown by 4B. In this instance, when a plurality of chat rooms are opened for one broadcasting channel, the list of the opened chat rooms is displayed to the DMB terminal, and the user can select a desired chat room from among the chat rooms.

The user can use a chat name to identify the DMB terminal user in the chat room, and hence, the user can perform a process for inputting his chat name to be used in the chat room when he enters the chat room. Further, he can use the telephone number of the DMB terminal as a chat name.

When the user inputs the chat name to the chat room through the input process, chat contents of the users having entered the chat room are displayed in the message display region 320. The user inputs a chat message to be transmitted to the message input region 350 as shown by 4C and applies the transmission button 340, and the input chat message is transmitted to the corresponding chat room opened in the communication service system 1270.

In this instance, the broadcasting channel, the chat room joined by the user, and the group ID that is allocated to display a specific chat friend are transmitted together with the chat message, by the DMB terminal 110 to the communication service system 1270. On receiving the chat message, the communication service system 1270 checks the group ID, and transmits the received chat message to a plurality of DMB terminals using the same group ID.

In this instance, when transmitting the chat message to a plurality of DMB terminals, the communication service system 1270 can use the mobile communication system 120 or the DMB system 130. The communication service system 1270 transmits the chat message by using the mobile communication system 120 when a lesser number of DMB terminals are joining the chat room, and it transmits the chat message by using the DMB system 130 when a large number of terminals are joining the chat room. In this instance, the reference for selecting transmission through the mobile communication system 120 or transmission through the DMB system 130 can be established in advance by an operator of the communication service system 1270 and can be varied depending on the resource usage state of the mobile communication system 120.

Also, in order to transmit the chat message to the DMB terminal using a specific group ID, a method for checking the group ID used by each DMB terminal, selecting the DMB terminal that uses the corresponding group ID, and transmitting the chat message thereto can be used. In addition, a method for including a group ID in the chat message to be transmitted and transmitting the chat message to many unknown users so that the DMB terminal having the corresponding group ID may check and display the transmitted chat message can be used. Accordingly, the chat message input by the user is input in the message display region 320 of the DMB terminal as shown by 4D.

Regarding performing the chat service, it is possible to set only the message display region 320 to be displayed without always displaying the message display region 320 and the message input region 350. When the user's specific button input is given, the message input region 350 is set to be displayed. Through this setting, the DMB terminal's screen with a limited size for viewing the DMB broadcasting program can be used more efficiently.

Here, 5A to 5E are screens of the DMB terminal transmitting an invite message, and 5F and 5G are screens of the DMB terminal receiving the invite message. The DMB terminal transmitting the invite message will be referred to as a transmitting DMB terminal, and the DMB terminal receiving the invite message will be referred to as a receiving DMB terminal.

The user can invite other users into the chat room during a chat in the chat room. For this purpose, the user selects the 'Invite friend' menu choice from the multimedia contents communication service list displayed as 5A on the DMB terminal.

On selecting the menu for inviting another user, a screen for inputting an ID or a telephone number of a user who will be invited is displayed on the transmitting DMB terminal as shown by 5B. When the user inputs an ID or a telephone number of the user to be invited, as shown by 5C, status information of the user to be invited, that is, a multimedia contents communication service access state, a multimedia contents communication service type in use, and an accessed channel/chat room are displayed. Accordingly, the user inputs an invite message through a message window as shown by 5D and transmits the invite message to the invited user. In this instance, the invite message can include a broadcasting screen that is broadcast together with a text message. When the invite message is transmitted, the transmitting DMB terminal displays a message for indicating transmission completion of an invite message as shown by 5E. On receiving the invite message from the transmitting DMB terminal, the receiving DMB terminal displays a message for indicating that the invite message has been received as shown by 5F. The receiving DMB terminal user checks the displayed invite message as shown by 5G, and enters the corresponding chat room by applying the invite admitting button or a confirmation button. In this instance, the broadcasting program viewed by the sending user is driven in the receiving DMB terminal to automatically access the same broadcasting program, and the MMCC program is driven so that the basis for a chat between them is easily provided.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for opening a chat room for a chat service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The user can open a chat room in the multimedia contents communication service. To open the chat room, the user selects the 'Open chat room' menu choice from the multimedia contents communication service list displayed to the DMB terminal 110 as shown by 6A.

When the menu for opening a chat room is selected, a screen for inputting a chat room name is displayed as shown in 6B. In this instance, regarding opening a chat room, the user opening a chat room can be set to select various options such as the number of members and open/not open states in addition to the chat room name.

FIG, 7 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for using a one-to-one chat service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The user can have a one-to-one chat with a specific user through the multimedia contents communication service. The user selects the 'One-to-one chat' menu choice from the multimedia contents communication service list displayed on the DMB terminal as shown by 7A.

When the one-to-one chat menu is selected, a screen for inputting an ID or a telephone number of the user to have the one-to-one chat with is displayed as shown by 7B. In this instance, a method for searching for the other user from the telephone directory, a method for searching for the other user from the calling list, and a method for selecting the other user from among the users who joined the chat service can be used as well as the method for directly inputting an ID or a telephone number so as to select the other user.

When the inputting of an ID or a telephone number for selecting the other user for the one-to-one chat is finished, a confirmation window may be displayed as shown in 7C.

When the user starts the one-to-one chat with the other user, he inputs a one-to-one chat message in the message input region 350 by using character keys and number keys. When the inputting of the one-to-one chat message is finished, the user applies the transmission button 340 to transmit the one-to-one chat message.

The transmission requested one-to-one chat message is transmitted to the communication service system 1270, is transmitted to the DMB terminal of the other user of the one-to-one chat selected in 7B through the mobile communication system 120, and is displayed in the message display region 320 as shown in 7D. In this instance, since the one-to-one chat message has one message transmission target, it is desirable to transmit the one-to-one chat message through the mobile communication system 120, and it is possible to transmit the same by using the DMB system 130 according to the mobile communication system operating company and the DMB system operating company.

Regarding performing the one-to-one chat service, it is possible to realize the chat room by using an application for the communication service installed in the DMB terminal without generating a chat room in the community service system. In this instance, the chat message is transmitted/received by using the short message or the multimedia message.

Further, a one-to-many chat is possible by using the above-described method in addition to the one-to-one chat. FIG. 8 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for transmitting DMB broadcasting contents through a multimedia message according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When a broadcasting screen desired by the user to be transmitted with or stored as a multimedia message is provided while the user views the DMB broadcasting program as shown by 8A, the user can capture the corresponding screen as a video or a photo. For this purpose, the DMB terminal screen can have an additional button for capturing a video or a photo. Also, a specific button from among various key buttons installed in the DMB terminal can be used for the capture button. FIG. 8A shows a capture button 320 for a video or screen capture installed in the DMB terminal screen.

When the user applies the capture button 810, a menu for selecting the video capture or photo capture is displayed as shown by 8B.

In this instance, when the user selects the video capture, the screen of 8C-1 is displayed, and the video starts being captured. The captured video is stored in a memory of the DMB terminal 110, and a message for indicating the capture progress is displayed in the message display region 320. The screen is maintained until the user inputs an instruction for finishing the video capture.

However, when the user selects the photo capture from the screen of 8B, the DMB terminal 110 captures the broadcasting screen displayed in the DMB broadcasting display region 310 at the selected time, temporarily stores the captured screen in the memory, and displays a message for indicating the completion of capturing in the message display region 320 as shown by 8C-2. When the video capture or the photo capture is finished, a message for checking whether to store or transmit the video or photo stored in the memory is displayed in the message display region 320 as shown by 8D.

In this instance, when the user selects storing of the capture screen, a message for notifying the stored state and a stored file name are displayed in the message display region 320 as shown by 8E-1.

When the user selects transmission of the captured video or photo from the screen of 8D, a message for receiving a telephone number of the transmission target DMB terminal for transmitting the captured and stored video or photo is displayed as shown by 8E-2.

When the user inputs the other user's telephone number and applies the transmission button, the captured video or photo is configured as an MMS message together with the addressee's telephone number and is transmitted to the communication service system 1270, and the communication service system 1270 checks the addressee's telephone number included in the transmitted MMS message and transmits the MMS message including the captured video or photo to the terminal having the corresponding telephone number through the DMB network 130 or the mobile communication system 120.

In this instance, it is possible to transmit the captured video or photo to a web page/wap page of a personal blog. When the user selects transmission of the captured video or photo to the web page/wap page from the screen of 8D, a message for inputting an address of the web page/wap page is displayed in the message display region 320 as shown by 8E-3.

When the user inputs the address of the web page/wap page and applies the transmission button, the captured video or photo is configured as an MMS message together with the address of the web page/wap page and is then transmitted to the communication service system 1270, and the communication service system 1270 checks the address of the web page/wap page included in the transmitted MMS message and transmits the captured video or photo to the corresponding web page/wap page through the Internet 140.

Also, it is possible to generate a representative image for each broadcasting program and store the same in a server in advance. Accordingly, when the user invites the other user so as to perform the one-to-one chat or one-to-many chat, he can select the image stored in the server, or can process the image captured by the user or generated as an invitation card and can transmit the invitation card. FIG. 9 shows an exemplified screen of a DMB terminal for using a chat service interworking with a DMB broadcasting station according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Regarding the chat service among a plurality of users for one DMB broadcasting program, a general chat room for DMB broadcast viewers and a chat room operated by DMB broadcasting persons concerned such as a producer and a writer of the corresponding DMB broadcasting program can be opened.

By using the chat service connected to the DMB broadcasting persons concerned, the DMB terminal user can immediately acquire information on the DMB broadcast, join the DMB broadcasting program, and participate in the event performed by the DMB broadcasting program.

9A shows an exemplified screen of the DMB terminal for receiving a chat service for a DMB broadcasting person concerned (e.g., a DMB broadcasting producer or writer) to perform a response when a user has a question or an opinion on the DMB broadcasting program while a plurality of users chat with each other and the DMB broadcasting person concerned participates in the chat room.

9B shows an exemplified screen of the DMB terminal for providing a real-time chat service for a DMB broadcasting station to check the question on the DMB broadcast and respond to it in real-time through the DMB broadcast when a DMB terminal user asks the question in the chat room. 9C shows an exemplified screen of the DMB terminal for providing a hint on a quiz when a producer or a writer participating in a DMB broadcasting chat room provides information on the music provided through the DMB broadcasting program and a DMB broadcasting program progresses a quiz event. In this instance, the users can be set to respond to the event through the chat room. FIG. 10 shows an exemplified-screen of a DMB terminal for downloading a coupon through a business service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Also, the user can receive business services such as a discount coupon, a game item, game money, a movie preview ticket, or a performance admission ticket from the DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider through the multimedia contents communication service according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider can provide various business services through the chat service caused by the DMB broadcasting. In this instance, in the case of providing the business service, the DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider can progress various events and provide the business service only to the users participating in the event thereby providing a conditional business service, and it can provide the business service to all users accessing the chat service thereby providing an unconditional business service.

1 OA shows an exemplified screen for providing a discount coupon of a corresponding advertised product to a user participating in the chat room at the broadcasting time.

The DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider for providing the business service such as a discount coupon transmits a discount coupon including a group ID of the users participating in the corresponding channel and the corresponding chat room.

The discount coupon transmitted to the DMB terminal 110 of the chat room using the group ID used for transmitting the discount coupon is displayed as an event icon 1010 as shown by 10A.

When the event icon 1010 such as the discount coupon is displayed on the screen of the DMB terminal 110 as shown by 10A, the user clicks the displayed icon or inputs a predetermined specific button to participate in the corresponding event.

The discount coupon transmitted to the DMB terminal 110 according to participating in the event can be transmitted in various formats including a barcode, an SMS/MMS/CBS, and email. Further, it is possible to transmit the discount coupon to another user instead of receiving the discount coupon by the corresponding user. The user selects a desired discount coupon when a screen for selecting the discount coupon format as shown in 1 OB is displayed. When the user requests a discount coupon, the DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider provides a requested discount coupon. The discount coupon can be displayed on the screen as shown in 1 OC and can be stored in the DMB terminal 110 without a display process.

The DMB broadcasting station 1310 generates a program guide so as to guide the time and the type of the program to be broadcast, and transmits the program guide to a plurality of DMB terminals 110 through the DMB system 130. The existing program guide provides a broadcasting time and a broadcasting program title, and the program guide according to the embodiment of the present invention uses the communication service system 1270 to provide an event notice service and a broadcast reservation service during the DMB broadcast. The program guide for providing the event notice service and the broadcast reservation service is provided as shown in 11A. As shown in 1 1A, the program guide includes a reservation button 1110 and an event notice button 1120. Also, the program guide may include the number of chat rooms opened to the corresponding program, the types of the opened chat rooms, and the opening state of the chat room in which the DMB broadcasting person concerned participates. The user can receive a broadcast reservation service by using the reservation button 11 10 included in the program guide. When the user selects the reservation button 1110 displayed to the desired broadcasting program 11A on the screen of 11A, the communication service system 1250 stores a predetermined history in the database 280, and notifies the start of a broadcasting program with the screen of 11 B at the broadcasting start time or a predetermined time (e.g., 5 or 10 minutes before the start of broadcasting) by using an SMS.

When the user selects the confirmation button of the message transmitted through the SMS, the user views the corresponding broadcasting program and simultaneously participates in the chat room.

That is, a corresponding broadcasting program is displayed to the DMB broadcasting display region 310, and chat contents of the chat room are displayed to the message display region 320. In this instance, it is possible to set the user to select a desired chat room by displaying a chat room list opened to the corresponding channel of the message display region 320.

In this instance, it is possible to set to receive a reserved DMB broadcasting program and drive a chat room access program when the time for the corresponding program starts while the broadcast reservation service history is stored in the DMB terminal 110 without storing the user's broadcast reservation service history in the database 280 of the communication service system 1270.

Also, the user can check the event contents provided by the corresponding program by using the event notice button 1120 included in the program guide. When the user selects the event notice button 1120 included in the program guide on the screen of 11A, detailed contents of the event provided by the selected program are displayed on the screen as shown in 11 C. By using the event notice button 1120, the user can check the business service such as a discount coupon, a game item, game money, a movie preview ticket, or a performance admission ticket, and the detailed contents of the event related to the corresponding program such as opening a chat corner with an actor and downloading broadcasting images.

The user having checked the detailed contents of the event can participate in the event that is generated while he views the corresponding program, by using the method described with reference to FIG. 10.

Also, it is possible to provide a community service for operating the communities on a specific DMB broadcasting program, a specific entertainer, specific music or video, and specific goods or companies by using the communication service system 1270. A community item button 1130 shown in 11A is displayed to the DMB broadcasting program for providing the community service. The community item button 1130 can be displayed in the message display region 320 during the DMB broadcast. Accordingly, when the user applies the community item button 1130 displayed to the program guide or the community item button displayed during viewing the DMB broadcasting program, a community service request signal is transmitted to the communication service system 1250. The community server 240 of the communication service system 1250 checks the received community service request signal and connects the opened community and the DMB terminal 110.

The users who are interested in the corresponding DMB broadcasting program through the community service can operate a notice board or a database room, open a chat room and chat with a person concerned of the corresponding

DMB broadcasting program, a specific entertainer, and a specific product, and can progress various events online or offline.

The community server 240 for providing the community service may be included in the communication service system 1270, or can be realized as another server. Also, the community can be opened outside the mobile communication system 120 and connected thereto through the Internet 140, and it can also be opened in the DMB broadcasting station 1310, the mobile communication system 120, or the database 280 of the communication service system 1250.

When viewing of DMB broadcasting is selected through the DMB terminal 110, the selected DMB broadcast is displayed in the DMB broadcasting display region 310 of the DMB terminal 110. In this instance, a group ID allocated to the selected DMB broadcast is set to the DMB terminal 110 (S1210).

A message display region 320, a menu button 330, a transmission button 340, and a message input region 350 for chatting are generated to the bottom of the DMB broadcasting display region 310.

When a specific button or a menu button for selecting the multimedia contents communication service set to the DMB terminal is applied, the provided multimedia contents communication service list is displayed, and the type of the multimedia contents communication service selected by the user is checked (S1220).

When a user requests a chat service for a plurality of users, a channel access for the chat service among a plurality of users is performed. In this instance, a plurality of chat room lists generated in the corresponding channel are displayed in the communication service system 1270. When the user selects a desired chat room list from among the chat room lists, he enters the selected chat room. In this instance, the DMB terminal 110 receives the group ID corresponding to the entered chat room from the communication service system 1270 and sets the group ID (S1230). When the user enters the chat room, a message for indicating the entrance into the chat room is displayed and it is checked whether the user has requested to transmit a chat message (S1232). When the user inputs a chat message and requests to transmit the same, the chat message input to the message input region 350 is transmitted to the communication service system 1270 through the mobile communication system 120.

In this instance, by including the group ID of the chat room allocated in the step S1230 into the chat message and transmitting the same so that the communication service system 1270 may check the group ID of the received chat message, the communication service system 1270 can check the chat room in which the DMB terminal 110 having transmitted the chat message participates, and accordingly can transmit the received chat message to a plurality of DMB terminals 110 using the corresponding group ID (S1234).

In the step S1232, the group ID attached to the received chat message is checked when there is no chat message input and transmission request and a chat message is received through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 (S1236). The broadcasting signal received through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 includes a plurality of chat messages, each of which is matched with the group ID. The DMB terminal 110 compares the allocated group ID with its group ID to select the chat message corresponding to the same group ID (S1238), and displays the selected chat message to the message display region 320 (S1240).

The DMB terminal 110 receives the chat service among a plurality of users by repeating the steps from S1232 to S1240, which is repeated until a finish request is provided from the user (S1242).

When the user selects the one-to-one chat service in the step S 1220, a screen for selecting the other user to chat with is displayed. In this instance, regarding the screen for selecting the other user, a telephone number input window for directly inputting a telephone number by the user, a telephone directory or a calling list for selecting the other user from the telephone directory or the calling list, and an ID input window for directly inputting the ID of the other user by the user can be displayed (S1250). When the user selects the other user to have a one-to-one chat with through the screen for selecting the other user, a one-to-one chat request message is output to the DMB terminal of the other user through the communication service system 1270. When the other user accepts the one-to-one chat, a one-to-one chat start message is displayed to the message display region 320 (S1252). It is checked whether a request for transmitting the chat message transmitted by the user or a request for receiving the chat message from the other user is provided, and the steps S1232 to S1242 for displaying the transmitted/received chat message to the message display region 320 are performed. In this instance, it is desirable to use the mobile communication system 120 rather than the DMB system 130 since the transmission target of the chat message is a single DMB terminal when providing the one-to-one chat service.

When the user selects a real-time reply service for the broadcasting in the step S1220, the user is connected to the operating server 250 of the communication service system 1250 so as to input a real-time reply. In this instance, the user can receive an additional group ID for the real-time reply service from the communication service system 1250 (S1260).

When the user inputs a real-time reply message (S1262), the input real-time reply message and the allocated group ID are transmitted to the communication service system 1270 through the mobile communication system 120. On receiving the real-time reply message and the group ID, the communication service system 1270 includes the received real-time reply message in the broadcasting signal having a corresponding group ID and outputs the broadcasting signal (S1264).

The real-time reply service is maintained until a finish request is input from the user (S1266). When the user selects a service for transmitting the DMB broadcasting video or image screen as a multimedia message in the step S1220, a screen for selecting or capturing the video or image screen to be transmitted as a multimedia message is displayed.

When the selecting and capturing of the video or image screen to be transmitted as a multimedia message is finished according to the user's key input

(S1270) and transmission of the multimedia message including the captured video or image screen is requested (S1272), a screen for inputting or selecting a telephone number of the user who will receive the multimedia message is displayed. In this instance, the user can directly input the telephone number of the user who will receive the multimedia message, or can select the same from the telephone directory or the calling list.

Also, the multimedia message including the captured video or image screen can be transmitted to the web page. In this instance, when the user requests to transmit the multimedia message, a screen for inputting or selecting an address of the web page can be displayed (S1274).

When the telephone number of the DMB terminal or the address of the web page for receiving the multimedia message is selected, the DMB terminal 1 10 transmits the multimedia message including the video or image to the communication service system 1270 (S1276). The multimedia message service can be performed during the multiple-user chat service or the one-to-one chat service.

When a multimedia message service request is provided during the multiple-user chat service or the one-to-one chat service, the displaying of the chat message in the message display region 320 is temporarily stopped, and a message for the multimedia message service is displayed.

When the transmission of the multimedia message including the video or image is finished, the chat message is consecutively displayed in the message display region 320.

The business service can be realized as a format for providing a requested business service when the user of the DMB terminal 110 requests a business service from the communication service system 1270, and a format for receiving a business service according to the user's need when the communication service system 1270 provides the business service.

First, when the user requests provision of a business service in the step S1220, the DMB terminal 110 receives a list of available business services from the menu server 220 of the communication service system 1270 and displays the list (S1270).

When the user selects a desired business service from the displayed list (S1282), a request for the corresponding business service is provided to the communication service system 1270 (S1284).

The communication service system 1270 receives the requested business service from the connected contents providing server or the DMB broadcasting station, and transmits the business service through the mobile communication system 120 or the DMB system 130 (S1286).

Further, when the communication service system 1270 provides a business service such as a discount coupon, a game item, game money, a movie preview ticket, or a performance admission ticket to a plurality of DMB terminals 110 through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120, the user desiring to receive the business service requests provision thereof from the communication service system 1270.

Accordingly, the communication service system 1270 provides contents for the business service to the DMB terminal through the mobile communication system 120 or the DMB system 130.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of a method for providing a multimedia contents communication service in a communication service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The communication service system 1250 checks the type of the requested multimedia contents communication service according to the multimedia contents communication service request signal received from the DMB terminal 110 viewing the DMB broadcast (S1310).

When the multimedia contents communication service requested from the DMB terminal 1 10 is a chat service among a plurality of users, the communication service system 210 provides a list of opened chat rooms through the session server 210 (S1320).

When a request of generating a new chat room is input from the DMB terminal 1 10 (S1322), a menu for generating a chat room is provided to receive a chat room generation option from the DMB terminal 1 10. In this instance, it is possible to receive a chat room opening state, participants, a password for a closed state, and a title of the chat room (S 1324).

On receiving the chat room generation option, the communication service system 1250 generates a chat room, allocates a group ID set to the DMB terminal 1 10 participating in the chat room (S1326), and transmits the group ID to the DMB terminal 1 10 (S1330). When the DMB terminal 1 10 requests to participate in the existing opened chat room in the step S1322, the group ID of the selected chat room is checked (S1328) and is transmitted to the DMB terminal 1 10 (S 1 330).

When a chat message transmission request is provided from the DMB terminal 1 10 participating in the chat room (S1332), chat contents received from the DMB terminal 1 10 and the group ID of the chat room in which the DMB terminal 1 10 participates are combined to generate a chat message (S1334), and the chat message is output to the DMB terminals participating in the chat room. In this instance, the chat message can be output through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120. The communication service system 1270 checks the number of DMB terminals participating in the chat room (S1338), and outputs the chat message through the DMB system 130 (S1340) when the number thereof is greater than a predetermined number, and outputs the chat message through the mobile communication system 140 (S1342) when the number thereof is less than a predetermined number.

The chat service provided through the above-noted method is maintained until a finish request is input from the DMB terminal 1 10 (S1344). The method for transmitting/receiving the chat message through the mobile communication system 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

The communication service system 1270 receives a one-to-one chat service request from the DMB terminal 110 through the step S1310, and receives a chat message and a list of users to chat with (S 1350).

The communication service system 1270 transmits the received chat message to the user to chat with through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120. In this instance, it is desirable to transmit/receive the chat message through the mobile communication system 120 in the one-to-one chat service (S1352).

When an acknowledgement message is received from the other user to

• whom the chat message is transmitted, the acknowledgement message is transmitted to the DMB terminal having requested the one-to-one chat service through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 (S1354). The one-to-one chat service is maintained until a service finish request is input from the DMB terminal 110 (S1356).

On receiving a real-time reply service request on the broadcasting from the

DMB terminal 110 through the step S1310, the communication service system

1270 provides a menu for using a real-time reply room. In this instance, the group ID for the real-time reply room to which the DMB terminal 110 participates is also transmitted (S 1360).

When real-time reply contents are received from the DMB terminal having participated in the real-time reply room (S1362), the received real-time reply contents and the group ID allocated to the real-time reply room are combined to generate a real-time reply message (S1364), and the real-time reply message is transmitted to a plurality of DMB terminals having participated in the real-time reply room. In this instance, the real-time reply message can be output through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 (S1366).

The real-time reply service is maintained until a finish request is input from the DMB terminal 110 or corresponding broadcasting is finished (S1368).

The communication service system 1270 receives a multimedia message service request from the DMB terminal 110 through the step S1310, and receives a multimedia message including a video or image screen. In this instance, a telephone number of the other user's DMB terminal to which the multimedia message will be transmitted or a web page address for uploading a video or image is attached thereto (S1370). When the multimedia message and the telephone number of the DMB terminal of the other user are transmitted, the communication service system 1270 transmits the multimedia message to the DMB terminal of the other user through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 (S1372).

However, when the multimedia message and the web page address are transmitted, the communication service system 1270 accesses the Internet 140 and accesses the transmitted web page to upload the video or image included in the multimedia message (S1374).

The method for transmitting/receiving the multimedia message in the multimedia message service will be described with reference to FIG. 16. On receiving a business service request in the step S1310, the communication service system 1270 provides a list of available business services through the menu server 220 (S1380).

On receiving a contents-providing request signal related to the selected business service from the DMB terminal 110 (S1382), the requested business service contents are transmitted through the mobile communication system 120 or the DMB system 130 (S1384).

The business service can be classified as an event data transmission service and a contents sale service, and the method for transmitting/receiving data for the event data transmission service will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 17 and the method for transmitting/receiving data for the contents sale service will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 18.

In order to use the chat service with a plurality of users or the real-time reply service while viewing the DMB broadcasting, the DMB terminal 110 must participate in a desired chat room from among a plurality of chat rooms opened in the communication service system 1270 or a real-time reply room opened for the corresponding DMB broadcast.

For this purpose, the DMB terminal 110 transmits a message for requesting to participate in the chat room or the real-time reply room to the mobile communication system 120. In this instance, the participation request message is transmitted in the short message format, and it includes an ID of the chat room desired for participation, and DMB broadcasting information and entrance request contents for entering the real-time reply room. In this instance, the group ID that is allocated in the case of selecting the DMB broadcasting can be used as DMB broadcasting information for participating in the real-time reply room (S1402).

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 of the mobile communication system 120 checks a chat room ID or DMB broadcasting information and entrance request contents from the participation request message transmitted from the DMB terminal 110, and transmits the checked contents to the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 of the communication service system 1270 (S1404).

The SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the received chat room ID or the DMB broadcasting information and the entrance request contents to the session server 210 (S1406). On receiving a chat room ID and entrance request contents according to a chat room participation request signal, the session server 210 performs an entrance process of the DMB terminal 110 for the entrance requested chat room from among a plurality of chat rooms operated by the session server 210.

On receiving DMB broadcasting information and entrance request contents according to the real-time reply room participation request signal, the session server 210 performs an entrance process into the real-time reply room operated by the corresponding DBM broadcasting channel (S1408).

While performing the chat room or real-time reply room entrance process, the session server 210 stores session information that is set to the corresponding DMB terminal allocation region of the database 280 (S1410).

When the entrance process into the chat room or the real-time reply room is finished, the session server 210 checks whether there is an announcement or an event to be transmitted to the corresponding DMB terminal 110, and transmits a participation message including the group ID allocated to the participation requested chat room or real-time reply room, a checked announcement, and an event to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 through the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1414, S1416).

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 having received the participation message, the announcement, and the event configures a short message, and transmits the short message to the DMB terminal 110 having requested chat room entrance or real-time reply room entrance (S1418). The DMB terminal 110 having received the participation message, the announcement, and the event sets the group ID included in the participation message, and displays the announcement and the event to the message display region 320.

When the user using the chat service or the real-time reply service desires to exit from the chat room, the DMB terminal 110 transmits a chat room or real-time reply room exit request message to the mobile communication system 120. In this instance, the exit request message includes exit request contents since there is no need to include the ID of the chat room or the real-time reply room (S1420).

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 of the mobile communication system 120 checks the exit request contents from the exit request message transmitted by the

DMB terminal 110 and transmits the exit request contents to the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1422), and the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the received exit request contents to the session server 210 (S1424).

The session server 20 performs an exit process on the exit requested DMB terminal 110 (S1426), and deletes the session established in the database 280 (S1428).

The entrance and exit process into/from the chat room or the real-time reply room can be performed by transmitting/receiving the SMS between the DMB terminal and the communication service system 1250, and it can also be performed by transmitting/receiving wireless Internet data of the TCP/IP protocol.

When the first DMB terminal having entered the multiple user chat room or the one-to-one chat room inputs chat contents according to the chat room entrance process of FIG. 15, the input chat contents are output to the mobile communication system 120. In this instance, the chat message transmitted from the first DMB terminal to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 has an SMS format, and includes a chat room ID and the chat contents (S1502).

On receiving the SMS type chat message from the first DMB terminal, the

SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 of the mobile communication system 120 checks the chat room ID and the chat contents from the chat message and transmits them to the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 of the communication service system

1270 (S1504).

The SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the received chat room ID and the chat contents to the session server 210 (S1506), and the session server 210 filters the transmitted chat contents to determine whether the chat contents have predetermined forbidden words (S1508), transmits the filtered chat contents to the operating server 250 so as to transmit the filtered chat contents to at least one DMB terminal that has the transmitted chat room ID and participates in the chat room (S1510), and receives an approval for the transmission (S1512). In this instance, it is possible to omit the filtering function by the session server 210 and the transmission approval process by the operating server 250.

On receiving transmission approval from the operating server 250, the session server 210 checks the list of the DMB terminals participating in the chat room so as to transmit the chat contents (S1514), and transmits the DMB terminal list and the chat contents to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 through the

SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1516).

In this instance, when the Internet access device 150 accessed through the Internet 140 participates in the opened chat room, the session server 210 transmits the chat contents to the Internet access device 150 through the WAP gateway 1290 and the Internet 140 (S1518).

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 configures a short message by using the received chat contents, and transmits the chat message to a plurality of DMB terminals according to the received list of DMB terminals.

In this instance, the generated chat message can be transmitted through the mobile communication system, and can be output through the DMB system 130 after it is transmitted to the DMB broadcasting station 1310 (S 1520). The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 transmits the chat message to a plurality of

DMB terminals and transmits an acknowledgement signal (ACK) to the session server 210 (S1524) through the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1522), and the session server 210 processes the acknowledgement signal to finish transmission of the chat message (S1526). In this instance, the steps from S1522 to S1526 for the

SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 to notify the session server 210 of transmission finish of the chat message can be omitted.

FIG. 16 shows a signal flowchart of a method for using a multimedia message service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The first DMB terminal viewing the DMB broadcasting captures DMB broadcasting video or image (S1602), and transmits a multimedia message to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 so as to transmit the captured DMB broadcasting video or image to the second DMB terminal or a specific web page. In this instance, the transmitted multimedia message includes the captured broadcasting video or image, a telephone number of the second DMB terminal for transmitting the multimedia message, and a web address of a specific web page (S1604).

On receiving the multimedia message, the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 checks the broadcasting video or image, the telephone number, or the web address included in the multimedia message, and transmits the checked results to the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 of the communication service system 1270 (S1606).

The SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the broadcasting video or image, the telephone number, or the web address to the session server 210 (S1608), and the session server 210 uses the telephone number or the web address to check the telephone number or the web address of the second DMB terminal to which the broadcasting video or image will be transmitted (S1610).

When the transmission target is the telephone number of the second DMB terminal according to the checking result, the telephone number of the second DMB terminal that is a transmission target and the transmitted broadcasting video or image are transmitted to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 (S1614) through the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1612). When the transmission target is the web address, the session server 210 transmits the broadcasting video or image to the corresponding web address through the WAP gateway 1290 and the Internet 140 (S1612-1).

On receiving the telephone number of the second DMB terminal and the broadcasting video or image, the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 uses the broadcasting video or image to generate a multimedia message and outputs the multimedia message to the second DMB terminal. In this instance, the multimedia message can be transmitted through the mobile communication system 120 or the DMB system 130 (S1616).

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 transmits the multimedia message and transmits an acknowledgment signal (ACK) to the session server 210 (S1620) through the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1618), and the session server 210 processes the acknowledgment signal to thus finish transmitting of the multimedia message (S1622).

It has been described in the above that the first DMB terminal selects and captures the broadcasting video or image through the step S1602 and transmits the broadcasting video or image in the multimedia message format to the communication system 1270, and the communication system 1270 transmits the multimedia message to the second DMB terminal, and it is also possible for the first DMB terminal to transmit a transmission request signal including information on the broadcasting video or image to the communication system 1270, and for the communication system 1270 to generate broadcasting video or image through information on the broadcasting video or image and transmit the same to the second DMB terminal.

For this purpose, the communication system 1270 is required to store broadcasting contents in the database 280. An additional identification code is set to the broadcasting provided through the DMB broadcasting network and is then transmitted. When a broadcasting video or image transmission request is input to the first DMB terminal from the user, the identification code of the broadcasting frame together with the broadcasting video or image transmission request is transmitted to the communication system 1270. In this instance, when the broadcasting video transmission request is input, a broadcasting frame identification code at the time of applying a start button and a broadcasting frame identification code at the time of applying a finish button are transmitted to the communication system 1270.

The communication system 1270 checks the received broadcasting frame identification codes to extract the corresponding broadcasting video or image from the database 280, and transmits the broadcasting video or image to the second DMB terminal through the multimedia message.

FIG. 17 shows a signal flowchart of a method for using a business service for transmitting event data according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider desiring to provide a business service receives event information that is generated through the operating server 250 of the communication service system 1270, and transmits the event information to the MMCC management server 230. In this instance, the event information includes event data and event contents (S1702). The MMCC management server 230 stores the event data in the database

280 (S 1704), and transmits the event contents and URL information for accessing the database 280 that stores event data to the session server 210 (S1706).

The session server 210 transmits the event contents and the URL information to the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1708), and the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the event contents and the URL information to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 (S1710).

On receiving the event contents and the URL information, the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 generates a message including the event contents and URL information for accessing the database 280, and transmits the message to a plurality of DMB terminals through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 (S1712).

When the user of the DMB terminal having received the event message from the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 desires to participate in the event, he selects the event connection through the DMB terminal (S1714).

As the user selects the event connection, the DMB terminal requests a wireless Internet access for an event service from the PDSN 1240 of the mobile communication system 120 (S1716) and sets a PPP session for packet data transmission with the PDSN 1240 (S1718).

The DMB terminal 110 requests the menu server 220 of the communication service system 1270 to provide event data when the PPP session with the PDSN

1240 is set. In this instance, the menu server 220 checks the type of the requested event by using the URL included in the event data providing request signal received from the DMB terminal 110 (S1720).

The menu server 220 requests the database 280 to provide corresponding event data according to the checked event type (S1722), and when the event data are provided from the database 280 (S1724), the menu server 220 provides the event data to the DMB terminal 110 through the PPP session (S1726).

Accordingly, the event data provided to the DMB terminal 110 can be performed by the DMB terminal 110 or the communication service system 1270. In this instance, when the event result is checked in the DMB terminal 110 as the event data are performed in the DMB terminal 110, the DMB terminal 110 transmits the event result to the operating server 250 of the communication service system 1270. However, when the event result is checked in the communication service system 1270, the communication service system 1270 transmits the event result to the DMB terminal 110.

FIG. 18 shows a signal flowchart of a method for using a business service for posting and selling contents according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The DMB broadcasting station or the contents service provider attempting to provide contents from among the business services inputs the contents to be provided through the operating server 250 of the communication service system 1270 (S1802).

The contents input by the operating server 250 are stored into the database

280 (S1804), and transmits a contents posting message to the session server 280 (S1806).

The session server 210 transmits the contents posting message to the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 (S1808), and the SMS/MMS/CBS interlocking module 270 transmits the contents posting message to the SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 (S1810).

The SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280 generates a short message for indicating the contents posting message, and outputs the short message to a plurality of DMB terminals through the DMB system 130 or the mobile communication system 120 (S1812). The DMB terminal user checks the contents posting message output by the

SMSC/MMSC/CBMC 1280, and selects the service menu connection for buying and downloading contents when there are desired contents (S1814).

When the user selects the service menu connection, the DMB terminal requests a wireless Internet access for the event service from the PDSN 1240 of the mobile communication system 120 (S1816), and sets a PPP session for packet data transmission with the PDSN 1240 (S1818).

When the PPP session with the PDSN 1240 is set, the DMB terminal 1 10 requests a service menu connection for buying the contents from the menu server 220 of the communication service system 1270 (S1820). On receiving the request of the service menu connection from the DMB terminal 1 10, the menu server 220 transmits the menu data for the multimedia contents communication service to the DMB terminal 110 (S1822).

On receiving the menu data from the menu server 220, the DMB terminal 1 10 selects a piece of contents from the menu data, and requests information on the corresponding contents from the menu server 220 (S1824).

Through the above-described process, the DMB terminal can receive the contents from the multimedia contents communication service system (S1826).

FIG. 19 shows a frame structure of a communication message transmitted/received for a communication service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the multimedia contents communication service system according to the embodiment of the present invention, a service code is allocated so as to identify the respective service messages, and a service code is inserted into the former part of the transmitted/received message.

For example, service codes including 'real-time reply service = 01 , chat service = 11 , multimedia message service = 21 , business service = 31 , and community service = 41' given as the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be allocated. In this instance, the respective services can be classified in detail, and different identification codes can be allocated to the detailed services. For example, it is possible to classify the chat service into a multiple-user chat service, a one-to-one chat service, and a broadcasting chat service operated by the DMB broadcasting station, and to allocate the service codes of 'multiple-user chat service = 12, one-to-one chat service = 13, and broadcasting chat service = 14'.

In the chat service according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a chat room opening request message, a chat message transmitted between the DMB terminals having participated in the chat room, and a chat room invite message for inviting other users can be used.

The chat room opening request message is a message transmitted to the communication service system from the DMB terminal for opening a chat room, and it includes a service code field, a terminal number field, a chat room title field, a chat name field, an open state indicating field, and a chat room attribute field.

The service code field indicates that a transmitted message is a chat service message, and the terminal number field is a proper number of the DMB terminal for requesting opening of a chat room. The chat room title field indicates the title of the chat room to be opened, the chat name field indicates a chat name of the DMB terminal in the chat room, the open state indicating field indicates the chat room's open/closed state, and the chat room attribute field indicates various types of chat room setting information including a participation condition of the chat room (area and age) and the number of members.

Here, the chat room title field, the open state indicating field, and the chat room attribute field can be realized as a single field.

The chat message is a message transmitted/received between the first DMB terminal for inputting chat contents and the communication service system, and between the communication service system and a plurality of the second DMB terminals for receiving chat contents so as to transmit the chat contents between the DMB terminals participating in the chat room, and it includes a service code field, a chat name field, a group ID field, and a message contents field. The service code field indicates that the transmitted/received message is a chat service message, the chat name field indicates the chat name of the first DMB terminal for transmitting the message, the group ID field indicates a group ID allocated to the first DMB terminal, that is, a group ID allocated to the corresponding chat room, and the message contents field indicates the transmitted chat contents. Here, the chat name field and the message contents field can be realized as a single field.

The chat room invite message is transmitted when the first DMB terminal participating in the chat room invites the second DMB terminal that does not participate in the chat room into the corresponding chat room, and the chat room invite message is classified as a chat room invite message transmitted to the communication service system by the first DMB terminal, a chat room invite message transmitted to the second DMB terminal from the communication service system, and a chat room invite response message for transmitting a response to the chat room invite message to the communication service system by the second DMB terminal.

The chat room invite message transmitted to the communication service system by the first DMB terminal includes a service code field, a chat name field, a chat room ID field, a receiving terminal number field, an invite message field, and a URL field. The service code field indicates that the transmitted message is a chat service message, the chat name field indicates the chat name of the first DMB terminal transmitting the message, and the chat room ID field indicates an ID of the currently participating chat room, that is, an ID of the chat room into which the second DMB terminal will be invited. In this instance, the chat name field can be set to include a telephone number rather than the chat name of the first DMB terminal. Also, the chat room ID displayed in the chat room ID field can correspond to the group ID, and can display the group ID as a substitute of the chat room ID.

The receiving terminal number field indicates a telephone number of the second DMB terminal, and the invite message field includes an invite message to be transmitted to the second DMB terminal. In this instance, the first DMB terminal can output a chat room invite message to a plurality of DMB terminals. When the chat room invite message is output to a plurality of DMB terminals, the receiving terminal number field may include telephone numbers of a plurality of second DMB terminals.

Also, the invite message field can be classified as a text message field for indicating contents of the text message in the invite message, and a multimedia field for indicating an image or video included in the invite message.

The URL field includes URL information of the chat room so that the second DMB terminal may automatically access the chat room invited by the first DMB terminal through inputting of an invite acceptance button. The chat room invite message transmitted to the second DMB terminal from the communication service system includes a service code field, a chat room ID field, an invite message field, a broadcasting information field, and a URL field.

In this instance, the service code field, the chat room ID field, the invite message field, and the URL field include the contents included in the chat room invite message transmitted to the communication service system from the first DMB terminal. The broadcasting information field indicates information on the DMB broadcasting provided to the invited chat room. Here, the broadcasting information field can be omitted. Also, when the chat room invite message is transmitted to the second DMB terminal from the communication service system, it is possible to transmit the chat room invite message to the communication service system from the first DMB terminal.

The chat room invite message is a message for the second DMB terminal to transmit a response to the received chat room invite message to the communication service system, and it includes a service code field, a chat name field, a chat room ID field, and an invite acceptance state indicating field.

The service code field indicates that it is a chat service message, the chat name field indicates the chat name to be used in the invited chat room by the second DMB terminal, the chat room ID field indicates the ID of the invited chat room, and the invite acceptance state indicating field indicates whether the user has accepted the invite.

In this instance, when the second DMB terminal does not accept the invite, the chat name field may include no item.

In the real-time reply service according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a real-time reply room access message for access to the real-time reply room and a real-time reply message transmitted between the DMB terminals participating in the real-time reply room are included. The real-time reply room access message includes a real-time reply room access request message transmitted to the communication service system from the DMB terminal, and a real-time reply room access response message transmitted to the DMB terminal from the communication service system.

The real-time reply room access request message includes a service code field, a chat name field, a broadcasting information field, and a terminal number field.

The service code field indicates that the transmitted message is a real-time reply service message, the chat name field indicates the chat name used in the real-time reply room by the DMB terminal for transmitting the real-time reply room access request message, the broadcasting information field indicates information on the DMB broadcasting for providing the real-time reply room having requested entrance, and the terminal number field indicates the proper number of the DMB terminal for transmitting the real-time reply room access request message. In this instance, a telephone number or a device number can be used for the proper number of the DMB terminal.

The real-time reply room access response message that is a response message of the real-time reply room access request message and is transmitted to the DMB terminal from the communication service system so as to transmit a real-time reply room entrance approval history of the DMB terminal includes a service code field, a chat name field, a group ID field, and a terminal number field. Here, the group ID field includes the group ID allocated to the real-time reply room that is requested to access by the DMB terminal. The chat name field can be deleted from the real-time reply room access response message.

The real-time reply message is transmitted/received between the DMB terminal participating in the real-time reply room and the communication service system. The real-time reply message transmitted to the communication service system by the DMB terminal includes a service code field, a chat name field, a group ID field, and a message contents field. The service code field indicates that the transmitted message is a real-time reply service message, the chat name field indicates the chat name used in the real-time reply room by the DMB terminal, the group ID field indicates the DMB broadcasting relating to the transmitted real-time reply message, and the message contents field includes contents of the real-time reply message transmitted by the DMB terminal.

The real-time reply message transmitted by the communication service system is transmitted to a plurality of unknown DMB terminals participating in the real-time reply room, and it includes a service code field, a group ID field, a chat name field, and a message contents field.

In this instance, the chat name field indicates the chat name used in the real-time reply room by the DMB terminal having outputted the transmitted real-time reply message, and it can be realized as a single field together with the message contents field.

The business service according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a business service providing history notifying message and a business service providing request message.

The business service providing history notifying message notifies the DMB terminal of an event and contents generation history, and it is classified as a message for a business service provider for providing events and contents to notify the communication service system of an event and contents generation history, and a message for the communication service system to notify the DMB terminal of an event and contents generation history. The message for the business service provider to notify the communication service system of an event and contents generation history includes a service code field, an addresser URL indicating field, a receiving group indicating field, an event message indicating field, an event contents indicating field, and an event URL indicating field.

The service code field indicates that the transmitted message is a business service message, and the addresser URL indicating field indicates URL information of the business service provider having been generated and is needed to transmit the event and contents to the communication service system.

The receiving group indicating field indicates the target for receiving the event and contents selected by the business service provider. The event message indicating field includes text for notifying the DMB terminal that is a receiving target of event generation history, images, or video, and the event contents indicating field includes detailed information on the corresponding event and contents. Here, the event message indicating field and the event contents indicating field can be realized as a single field.

The event URL indicating field indicates an address for the DMB terminal desiring to receive an event or contents to access the wireless Internet, a short message, or a multimedia message so as to receive a corresponding event or contents.

The message for communication service system to notify the DMB terminal of an event and contents generation history includes a service code field, a receiving group indicating field, an event message indicating field, an event contents indicating field, and an event URL indicating field. In this instance, the receiving group indicating field indicates the final receiving targeted user list selected from the communication service system.

The business service providing history notifying message is output to the DMB terminal through the DMB broadcasting system, and the short message, the multimedia message, or the wireless Internet of the mobile communication system.

The business service providing request message is transmitted in order for the DMB terminal having received the business service providing history notifying message to request the communication service system to provide event and contents, and it includes a service code field, a terminal number field, a group ID field, an event participation indicating field, and an additional information indicating field. The service code field indicates that the transmitted message is a business service message, the terminal number field indicates a proper number of the DMB terminal for requesting a business service, the group ID field indicates a group ID allocated to the requested event or contents, and the event participation indicating field indicates participation in the event when the provided business service is the event.

The additional information indicating field includes various types of information to be transmitted, for example an answer to a quiz input from the DMB terminal and personal information when the DMB terminal participates in the event, and it includes information such as settlement information and a contents providing form when the DMB terminal requests provision of contents.

In the community service according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the message transmitted to the communication service system by the DMB terminal includes a service code field, a community information indicating field, a chat name field, and a community message field.

The service code field indicates that the transmitted message is a community service message, and the community information field indicates a target community to which the message will be transmitted and includes a group ID.

The chat name field indicates the DMB terminal for transmitting the message, and indicates the chat name used in the community or the proper number of the DMB terminal. The community message field includes contents of a message to be transmitted to the community opened in the communication service system, and it can be classified as a text message field for indicating the contents of the text message and a multimedia field for indicating an image or video included in the message.

It is possible to provide a communication service to the DMB terminal by using the communication message having the above-noted frame.

The method for providing a multimedia contents communication service with reference to the DMB terminal for communicating with the mobile communication system 120 has been described so as to view the DMB broadcasting and transmit a communication message related to the DMB broadcasting. However, when realizing the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to realize the terminal (hereinafter, a DMB receiver) that does not communicate with the mobile communication system 120 to receive a multimedia contents communication service.

The DMB receiver includes a module for receiving and processing DMB broadcasting and a communication message, displays the DMB broadcasting included in the broadcasting signal received from the DMB system 130, and displays a real-time reply on the provided broadcasting program or a chat message according to the user's multimedia contents communication service providing request. In this instance, the DMB receiver may further include a mode selection module for selecting a provision state of the multimedia contents communication service. That is, when there is no providing request for the multimedia contents communication service from the user, the DMB receiver is operated in the broadcasting viewing mode to display the DMB broadcasting received from the DMB system 130. However, when a providing request for the multimedia contents communication service from the user is input, the DMB receiver is operated in the multimedia contents communication service mode to display the communication message according to the DMB broadcasting and the multimedia contents communication service. The DMB receiver user can receive the multimedia contents communication service by using the mobile terminal for communicating with the mobile communication system 120. That is, the user uses the mobile terminal to access the communication service system 1270, uses the DMB receiver to participate in the real-time chat room or the chat room for the broadcasting program and inputs chat contents on the corresponding broadcasting program, and thereby receives a multimedia contents communication service. In this instance, the message generated in the mobile terminal is transmitted to the DMB system and the mobile communication system through the communication system. Therefore, the message generated by the user in the mobile terminal is displayed in the mobile terminal or the DMB receiver, and hence the user can use the communication service through a larger screen.

Accordingly, through the method for simultaneously using a broadcasting receiver and a mobile terminal, the multimedia contents communication service can be provided in the various broadcasting systems including the general terrestrial broadcasting system, the cable broadcasting system, the satellite broadcasting system, and the IP TV service system. That is, the user can receive various multimedia contents communication services including a real-time chat, a chat, and a business service by accessing the communication service system 1270 by using a mobile terminal regarding the broadcasting program received through a broadcasting receiver such as a TV.

When the multimedia contents communication service is provided, it is possible to exchange communication messages between the wired Internet user and the multimedia contents communication service user using a DMB terminal in cooperation with the service (e.g., a real-time reply service, a chat service, and a community service) that is provided through a portal site opened to the wired Internet or a broadcasting station site. The above-described embodiments can be realized through a program for realizing functions corresponding to the configuration of the embodiments or a recording medium for recording the program in addition to through the above-described device and/or method, which is easily realized by a person skilled in the art. While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can use various multimedia contents communication services such as a message exchange between a plurality of portable mobile broadcasting viewers, a one-to-one chat between specific users, multimedia contents transmission, and event performance of a portable mobile broadcasting station while simultaneously viewing portable mobile broadcasting through a mobile terminal.

Also, when a communication message and contents that are generated while using various multimedia contents communication services are transmitted to a mobile terminal, the portable mobile broadcasting system can be used, and hence the communication message and contents can be transmitted with cheaper costs and faster speed compared to the message and contents transmission method using the mobile communication system, and a time delay caused by a message delay that can be generated in the mobile communication system can be improved.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A communication service server for providing a communication service to a terminal for receiving a broadcasting signal, the communication service server comprising: a receiver for receiving a receiving communication message for the communication service from a communication system; a controller for converting the receiving communication message into a transmission communication message to be output to the terminal, and controlling the communication service server; and a transmitter for transmitting the transmission communication message to the broadcasting system or the communication system.

2. The communication service server of claim 1 , wherein the communication service server supports at least one of communication services including: a chat service for supporting a chat between terminals receiving the broadcasting signal; a real-time reply service for posting an opinion as an article on a broadcasting program provided through the broadcasting signal; a multimedia message service for transmitting information on the broadcasting program stored in a first terminal to a second terminal; an event service provided together with the broadcasting program; and a community service for supporting a community activity between the terminal users.

3. The communication service server of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises: a session server for operating a chat room for the chat service, and managing a virtual session of the terminal; a menu server for providing menu data for the terminal to select a communication service; a media multimedia contents community (MMCC) management server for generating the menu data, managing the valid period of broadcasting data or multimedia contents, and controlling data; a community server for operating a notice board or a chat room for the community service; an operating server including an interface for operating the communication service server; and an authentication/billing interlocking module for authenticating the terminal, and billing for the usage of the communication service.

4. The communication service server of claim 1 , wherein the transmission communication message is transmitted through the communication system when the number of terminals that are receiving targets of the transmission communication message is less than a predetermined number, and the transmission communication message is transmitted by using the broadcasting system when the number thereof is greater than the predetermined number.

5. The communication service server of claim 1 , wherein the broadcasting system includes: an output unit for generating broadcasting data for transmitting the broadcasting program, and outputting a transmission communication message transmitted by the communication service server together with the broadcasting signal; and a repeater for receiving the transmission communication message and the broadcasting data from the broadcasting station, and outputting the same to the terminal.

6. A method for transmitting/receiving a communication message for providing a communication service to a terminal for receiving a broadcasting signal, the method comprising:

(a) checking a type of a communication service requested through a receiving communication message received through a communication system wherein the receiving communication message is a communication message received from the terminal;

(b) reconfiguring a transmission communication message for the checked communication service wherein the transmission communication message is output to the terminal; and

(c) outputting the reconfigured transmission communication message to a broadcasting system or the communication system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step (b) includes reconfiguring the transmission communication message by using a group ID including information on a list of terminals for receiving the transmission communication message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein in the step (a), the receiving communication message is checked to determine to which one of the communication services it belongs and checks the type of the requested communication service, wherein the communication services includes: a chat service for supporting a chat between the terminals receiving the broadcasting signal; a real-time relay service for posting an opinion on the broadcasting program as an article format through the broadcasting signal; a multimedia message service for transmitting information on the broadcasting program stored in a first terminal to a second terminal; an event service provided together with the broadcasting program; and a community service for supporting a community activity between the terminal users.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step (a), when a communication message for a chat between the terminals is received, the receiving communication message includes one of: a chat room participation request message for requesting entrance to a chat room for the chat service; a chat room exit request message for requesting an exit from the chat room performing the chat service; and a chat message for a chat between the terminals.

10. The method of claim 7 or claim 9, wherein the step (b) includes reconfiguring the chat room in which the terminal having transmitted the receiving communication message participates for a chat, or a transmission communication message including a group ID for indicating a specific terminal from among the terminals included in the chat room, when the receiving communication message is a communication message for the chat message.

1 1. The method of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the step (b) includes reconfiguring a transmission communication message including a telephone number of the terminal for receiving a multimedia message including information on the broadcasting program as the group ID when the receiving communication message is a communication message for the multimedia message service.

12. The method of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the step (b) includes reconfiguring a transmission communication message including a group ID for indicating a real-time reply room including the terminal or the community when the receiving communication message is a communication message for the real-time relay service or the community service.

13. A method for a terminal to transmit a communication message so as to provide a communication service on a broadcasting program transmitted through broadcasting signals, the method comprising:

(a) checking a type of the communication service requested from a terminal user;

(b) generating a communication message including a type of the communication service, a request history, and a group ID having information on a list of terminals for receiving the communication message; and (c) outputting the generated communication message to the communication system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step (a) includes checking which communication service is requested from among: a chat service for supporting a chat between terminals receiving the broadcasting signal; a real-time reply service for posting an opinion as an article on a broadcasting program provided through the broadcasting signal; a multimedia message service for transmitting information on the broadcasting program stored in a first terminal to a second terminal; an event service provided together with the broadcasting program; and a community service for supporting a community activity between the terminal users.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the chat service is requested, the step (b) includes generating one of: a chat room participation request message for requesting entrance to a chat room for the chat service; a chat room exit request message for requesting an exit from the chat room performing the chat service; and a chat message for a chat between the terminals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step (b) includes generating a chat message including contents of the communication message that is input from the terminal user and including an ID of the chat room in which the terminal participates as the group ID.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein when the real-time reply service is requested, the step (b) includes generating a real-time reply message including contents of the communication message that is input from the terminal user and including an ID of the real-time reply room in which the terminal participates for the real-time reply service as a group ID.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein for the chat service and the real-time reply service, the terminal provides a terminal screen including: a broadcasting display region for displaying the broadcasting program; a message display region for displaying the transmitted/received communication message; and a message input region for displaying contents of the communication message that is input from the terminal user.

19. The method of any one of claim 16 to claim 18, further including, after the step (c), displaying contents of a communication message to the message display region when the communication message is received through the broadcasting signal.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein when the multimedia message service is requested, the step (b) includes:

(b1) capturing an image or video of the broadcasting program to be transmitted as the communication message according to a request from the terminal user;

(b2) receiving another terminal to which the communication message will be transmitted; and

(b3) setting the input as the other terminal's telephone number to be the group ID, and generating a communication message including the captured broadcasting program's image or video.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein when the event service is requested, the step (b) includes: (b1) setting a session for connection to the communication system so as to provide the event service according to the terminal user's request; and

(b2) setting an event service provider for providing the event service or a broadcasting station with the group ID, and generating a communication message for requesting the event service.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step (c) includes outputting a communication message that requests the event service generated in (b2) to the communication system through a predetermined session.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the step (a) includes receiving a provision request on a broadcast reservation service for reserving receiving of the broadcasting signal and participation to the chat service from the terminal user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step (b) includes:

(b1 ) checking a start time of a broadcasting program with the requested broadcast reservation service; and (b2) receiving the broadcasting signal, and generating a communication message for participating in the chat service when the broadcasting program starts.

25. A method for providing a chat service to a terminal for receiving a broadcasting signal through transmitting/receiving a communication message, comprising:

(a) receiving a chat room participation request message for requesting to enter a chat room through a communication system; (b) reconfiguring a receiving chat message received from the terminal participating in the chat room to be a transmission chat message to be output to another terminal, and outputting the transmission chat message through a broadcasting system or the communication system; and (c) stopping provision of the chat service when receiving a chat room exit request message for stopping the chat service from the terminal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step (a) includes: (a1) receiving a chat room participation request message including an ID of a desired chat room from the terminal;

(a2) setting a session for participating in the chat room to the terminal; and (a3) transmitting a chat room participation message including an announcement and an event to the terminal through the broadcasting system or the communication system.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step (b) includes:

(b1) receiving a receiving chat message including a chat room ID and chat contents from the first terminal;

(b2) checking the chat room in which the terminal participates, and searching a list of the target terminals to which the chat contents will be transmitted through a chat room ID of the receiving chat message; and

(b3) configuring the transmission chat message and outputting the same through the broadcasting system or the communication system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step (b3) includes outputting the transmission chat message by using the broadcasting system when the number of target terminals to which the chat contents will be transmitted is greater than a predetermined number, and transmitting the transmission chat message by using the communication system when the number thereof is less than the predetermined number.

29. The method of claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the step (c) includes: (c1) receiving a chat room exit request message for stopping the chat service from the terminal; and

(c2) deleting the session that is set for the terminal's chat service.